Washing cloth nappies doesn't have to be complicated. It may seem daunting at first, but you'll soon find a good routine that works for your family.

It's always best to check the directions on the label or packaging before washing your nappies. Reusables are available in a range of materials, which all have different washing instructions. But the advice here will work for most nappies.

How do I wash cloth nappies?

Wash your baby’s nappies in the washing machine on a normal cycle. Set the temperature to 60 degrees C to destroy as much bacteria as possible.

Don't overload the washing machine as the nappies won't get as clean, and the friction between them will make the fabric bobble. For most machines, you can fit up to 24 nappies in one wash.

When you take the nappies out of the washing machine, they should smell fresh and clean. If they still smell of dirty nappies, even faintly, rewash them. Bad smells can mean that the nappies contain lingering bacteria, which may irritate your baby's skin or cause nappy rash.

Should I do a separate nappy wash?

Nappies that have poo on them shouldn’t go into the machine with other washing so it’s often easier just to do a separate nappy wash. However, if you have a couple of nappies that are only wet and not soiled, you could add them to a load of clothes or linen. It's up to you.

Doing a separate nappy wash means you’ll need to store your dirty nappies in a wet bag or nappy bucket until you have a full load.

You’ll make life easier for yourself if you get nappies ready to be washed before you store them. Then you can simply empty the bucket or bag of dirty nappies into the machine without having to handle them again.

All you need to do is:
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Deal with the poo (see below)

Remove the inserts if you’re using a pocket-style nappy

Fold Velcro fastenings down so they don’t stick to each other and tangle your nappies up while they’re being washed

You'll no doubt come up with a laundry schedule that works for you, but most parents find that washing nappies every other day works well. It's more practical than keeping up with a daily cycle, while still being often enough to avoid a stockpile of soiled nappies building up.

How many loads you'll need to do on each wash day depends on how many nappies your baby goes through. However, as a rough guide, you'll probably need to do about two loads every other day while your baby is a newborn, and one load every other day by the time he's six months.

How do I deal with poo?

If you’re breastfeeding, you won’t need to worry about your baby's poo, particularly when he’s small. It will be very loose and there won’t be too much of it, so it will wash out easily. But as your baby gets older, or if you’re using formula, you’ll need to remove as much poo as you can before you put your baby’s nappies in the wash.

If you’re using disposable liners, you can simply lift the poo and the liner out together. The poo can be flushed down the loo; the liner can be thrown away.

For reusable liners, tip any loose poo into the toilet and then wipe or rinse off the rest. Any poo that gets onto the nappy itself can be dealt with in the same way.

There are a number of ways to remove poo from a liner or nappy:

Some parents use the flush on the loo to rinse poo off a nappy.

Depending on the layout of your bathroom you may be able to use the showerhead held over the loo to rinse the nappy.

You could use a spatula (used only for this purpose) to scrape the poo off.

Should I soak cloth nappies before washing them?

Some parents soak soiled cloth nappies and reusable liners for a few hours before washing, to help with stain removal. However, it's not usually necessary.

If you do want to soak your baby's nappies, always check the manufacturer's instructions first. Prolonged contact with water can damage certain materials. You should also only use plain water. Adding extra stain removers, including vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, and bleach, can damage your nappies and make them wear out faster.

Do I need special detergent for washing cloth nappies?

There is a lot of debate about this with many different opinions on the type of detergent to use and how much of it you should use.

Many cloth nappy advisors recommend using fragrance-free, non-biological powdered detergent to wash your reusable nappies. However, there’s no evidence that using bio washing powders will irritate your baby's skin, so it’s up to you.

You may also read that you should use less detergent for washing nappies than you would use for the rest of your laundry. The theory is that detergent can build up on the nappies, trapping in smells and possibly irritating your baby's skin. If you’re washing at 60 degrees C and your machine rinses well, you’re unlikely to have detergent build-up on your nappies. So there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use your normal dose of detergent.

Don't use fabric softener or two-in-one detergents on reusable nappies. These coat the fibres of fabrics to make them soft, but this also makes them less absorbent. Don't use bleach either, as it's bad for your baby's delicate skin, as well as the nappies themselves.

How should I dry cloth nappies?

If possible, dry your nappies outside on a washing line, as the sunlight may help to lighten any stains. If this isn't possible, the next best option is to dry them on a rack inside, or in your airing cupboard. The nappies may take a bit longer to dry, but it's still a gentle method that will help to preserve your nappies.

If space or time is an issue, you may prefer to tumble dry your nappies. Some nappies and nappy covers aren't suitable for tumble drying, so always check the label first.

Many nappies can also be dried by putting them directly on a radiator. You'll probably find that they're a bit stiff when you take them off, but a good shake should help to soften them. Bamboo nappies should never be dried on a hot radiator, as it can damage the fibres and shorten the life of the nappy.

Microfibre nappies, which can be made of acrylic, nylon, polyester or rayon, have a high absorbency and dry a lot quicker. They may even feel dry when you take them out of the wash.

Do I need to wash new nappies before I use them?

Yes. Before you use new cloth nappies, you'll need to wash them. Like towels, nappies aren’t very absorbent when they’re brand new. Put them in your machine with a small amount of detergent and run through two full washes. You don’t need to dry them in between.

A couple of washes will get your nappies ready for use. But they’ll continue to soften up over the next few washes.Feeling intimidated by the idea of reusable nappies? Learn more about cloth nappies, and see why other BabyCentre parents love reusables.

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